Socialists formalise new alliance

The Socialist group in the European Parliament today formally established a new group with members of the Italian Democratic Party (PD), a move that reinforces the centre-left’s position as the second-largest force in the assembly.

The new group, called the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, will have 183 members. The alliance had been announced on 12 June, under the provisional name Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in Europe.

The leader of the now-superseded Socialist group, the German MEP Martin Schulz, will head the alliance.

The re-configuration follows elections held on 4-7 June that strengthened the position of conservatives in the Parliament.

The largest group in the new assembly, the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), has 264 members. The group today re-elected Joseph Daul, a French MEP, as its leader for a second term.

Yesterday, the UK Conservatives left their alliance with the EPP to form an anti-federalist group in the Parliament, together with Poland’s Law and Justice party, the Czech Civic Democrats and MEPs from five other countries.